Overview of Approaches to Register-Based Populating Censuses

1. Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing Censuses Minsk, 8-12 December 2008 Overview of Approaches to Register-Based Populating Censuses Paolo Valente United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division

2. Content: • General considerations about using registers • Fully register based census • Data from registers + full enumeration • Data from registers + existing sample surveys • Data from registers + ad-hoc sample surveys • Conclusions

3. 1. General considerations Advantages of using register data for censuses: • Use information already available  No additional burden on respondents • Data potentially available every year • Cheaper that full enumeration once high quality registers are established

4. 1. General considerations Requirements of using register data: • Need to have public and legislative support • Long time and large investments needed to develop high quality statistical register system to be used for censuses

5. 2. Fully register based censuses • Census conducted by integrating data from various registers • Conclusion of long step-by-step process • Census is part of a system of register-based information Main requirements: • Availability of population register and dwelling register • Capacity to link persons and dwellings, identifying households • Public and legislative support for the use of population registers

6. 2. Fully register based censuses Experience 2000 census: Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Norway From 2010: Sweden, Netherlands, Slovenia Advantages: • No burden on individuals • Data usually available every year • Once high quality registers are established, it is cheaper than a full field enumeration Limitations: • Setting up and maintenance require significant resources • Characteristics to be collected are limited to those on the registers • Quality of census depends on coverage and quality of registers • Data in registers usually collected for non-statistical purposes • Statistical agencies are also dependent on register authorities

7. 3. Data from registers + full enumeration • Option when registers exist but some important variables are missing, or quality is not sufficiently good • Enumeration provide data on these variables, and evaluation of coverage and accuracy of register data • Some register data can be pre-printed in questionnaires

8. 3. Data from registers + full enumeration 2000 round: Belgium, Latvia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland Advantages: • Data collection operations could be used to update and improve registers • Preliminary step to « pure » register-based census • Distinction between statistical operation (census) and admin. operation (register update) should be clear to the respondents • More efficient than traditional census in field operations Disadvantages: • Method can be complex to apply • More expensive than pure register based census • Burden on the public

9. 4. Data from registers + existing sample surveys • As an alternative, register data can be integrated with data from existing sample surveys (i.e. LFS) • Survey results are used for variablesnot covered in registers • Data linked at individual level

10. 4. Data from registers + existing sample surveys 2000 round: Netherlands (« Virtual census ») Advantages: • No burden on respondents • Reduced costs: no specific field data collection • Consistency between census results and survey results Disadvantages: • Process to successfully link information on individuals from different surveys and registers is complex • Limited detail for information taken from sample surveys

11. 5. Data from registers + ad-hoc sample surveys • Other alternative: using ad hoc sample surveys instead of existing surveys. • Ad-hoc surveys can be used to evaluate accuracy of registers and collect traditional long form census data. • Requires capacity to link individual data from different sources

12. 5. Data from registers + ad-hoc sample surveys Plans for 2010: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Israel (2008), Switzerland Advantages: • Accuracy of population register can be tested • Population counts could be adjusted • No burden on respondents • Reduced costs: no specific field data collection Disadvantages: • Method could be complex • Limited detail for information taken from sample surveys

13. Conclusions: Census methods adopted in ECE Region2000 census round and plans for 2010 round countries countries

14. Conclusions • UNECE countries seem to find their way to use data they have in registers for the census • Quality of register data is a key factor, but not an « excuse » not to use them • Learn from other countries’ experiences but then take decisions based on national context

15. Source on Register based censuses More details available in CES Census Recommendations, Appendix II: http://www.unece.org/stats/census/

16. Sources on Register based censuses Fully register-based censuses also covered in UNECE publication on register-based statistics: http://www.unece.org/stats/census/

17. Other UNECE material on censuses • CES Recommendations for 2010 Censuses (English/Russian/French) • Documents of annual meetings on censuses • Documents of training workshops on censuses • Methodological and reference material: • Collection of questionnaires and material used in 2000 • Publication on national practices in 2000 censuses (Eng/Rus) • 5 multimedia presentations on censuses (Eng/Rus) http://www.unece.org/stats/census/